Shower curtain rod attachment



P 1963 R. E. PIETTE SHOWER CURTAIN ROD ATTACHMENT Filed 001;. 22, 1962 I NVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,104,014 SHOWER CURTAIN ROD ATTACHMENT Ruth E. Piette, 12219 Ashton, Detroit, Mich. Filed Get. 22, M62, Ser. No. 232,210 4 Claims. (Cl. 211-423) This invention relates to a shower curtain rod attachment and more particularly, to an attachment for fastening upon a conventional shower curtain rod and adapted to support decorative curtains as well as towels and the like.

In conventional shower-tub arrangements in dwelling homes, a bathtub is arranged, with a shower head located above it, in an alcove area and a horizontally arranged shower curtain rod is fastened within the alcove to support a conventional Water proof curtain which encloses the shower to prevent splashing of water out of the alcove. Since conventional water proof curtains rapidly deteriorate and fade due to the eifect of constant wetting, etc., it is desirable to conceal these when not in use and thus avoid replacement merely for the sake of appearance.

Hence, it is an object of this invention to provide attachments for the conventional shower curtain rod which is arranged to support decorative curtains at the opposite sides of the shower rod to conceal the water proof shower curtain when it is not in use and, in addition, to support miscellaneous objects such as towels and the like which might otherwise be placed upon the conventional shower rod.

This and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, of which the attached drawings form a part.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a shower-tub with the attachments arranged in position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view or one attachment, with the shower curtain support rod, a decorative curtain and a towel shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the attachment taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is an end view taken in the direction of arrows 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the support bracket.

FIG. 1 illustrates a shower-tub combination having a conventional bathtub 11 located in an alcove having vertical side walls 12 between which a conventional, honizontally arranged shower curtain support rod 13 is located. The opposite ends of the rod 13 :are secured to the walls 12 by means of conventional end brackets 14. Suspended from the shower curtain rod, by conventional rings or hooks 16 is a waterproof shower curtain 15.

The attachments 20, illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, are used in pairs, each consisting of an elongated rod or tube bent into a U-shape to provide a pair of parallel elongated legs 21 and a base 22, with the free ends of the legs each having an enlargement or knob 23 removably secured thereto by means of studs 24. The studs may be either threaded or force-fitted into corresponding openings in the ends of the legs.

Each attachment is arranged at one end of the curtain rod 13 with its base 22 adjacent the wall 12 and is secured to the rod by means of a sleeve-like bracket 25 arranged to closely fit over the rod 13. The bracket is connected by an integral extension portion 26 to the base 22 cat the attachment by welding or the like and is clamped to the rod 13 by means of a bolt 27 or the like.

The bracket 25 being arranged beneath the attachment thus holds the legs 21 parallel to, but above the shower curtain rod 13 with one leg being in front and one leg being in back of the shower curtain.

A decorative curtain 30 is supported upon the front leg of each attachment. The rear leg, that is, the leg located behind the shower curtain rod and within the shower enclosure, is used to support towels, wet garments, and the like 31 :hung for drying.

In operation, the shower curtain 15, with its lower edges contained within the tub, is pushed behind a decorative curtain 30 when not in use and is thus completely concealed, as is any towel or garment 31 hung upon the rear leg of each attachment. When the shower is used, the shower curtain is pulled outwardly from behind a decorative curtain 30 into tub enclosing position. Hence, when not in use, the water proof shower curtain is completely concealed and yet is readily available when needed.

This invention may be further developed within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly, it is desired that the foregoing description be read as being merely illustrative of an operative embodiment of this invention and not in a strictly limiting sense.

I now claim:

1. A shower rod attachment for securement to a horizontally arranged elongated shower curtain supporting rod comprising an elongated, rigid rod bent into a U- shape whose legs are parallel and horizontally arranged in the same horizontal plane; a bracket fastened to the base of the U-shape and depending beneath the U-shape a short distance and arranged for rigid securement to a shower curtain supporting rod to hold the U-shape a short distance above and with its legs parallel to the shower curtain rod on opposite sides of the shower curtain rod.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, and said bracket comprising a horizontally axised sleeve of a size to snugly receive said shower curtain rod and including fastening means for clamping the sleeve to the shower curtain supporting rod and the upper surface or the sleeve being rigidly secured to the base of the U-shape by means of an upwardly bent sleeve extension portion.

3. A combination shower curtain support rod and decorative curtain attachment, comprising an elongated horizontally extending shower curtain support rod having its opposite ends secured to opposed wall surfaces and upon which a shower curtain may be hung; a pair of U- shape attachments each formed of an elongated, rigid rod bent at its center into a U-shape whose legs are parallel, the two attachments being arranged in the same horizontal plane located above said support rod, but being at opposite ends of said support rod, with their bases being adjacent their respective rod ends and their legs pointing towards each other, each of said legs being considerably shorter than the length of said support rod so that a wide gap is formed between the two attachments, and bracket means attached to each of said bases and fastening each attachment, at its base, to the support of each leg being provided with a removable enlargement which forms a stop shoulder for the curtains, towels and the like supported on said leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bescher Oct. 22, 1918 Bernhardt Apr. 24, 1934 Daley Mar. 20, 1962 

1. A SHOWER ROD ATTACHMENT FOR SECUREMENT TO A HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED ELONGATED SHOWER CURTAIN SUPPORTING ROD COMPRISING AN ELONGATED, RIGID ROD BENT INTO A USHAPE WHOSE LEGS ARE PARALLEL AND HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED IN THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE; A BRACKET FASTENED TO THE BASE OF THE U-SHAPE AND DEPENDING BENEATH THE U-SHAPE A SHORT DISTANCE AND ARRANGED FOR RIGID SECUREMENT TO A SHOWER CURTAIN SUPPORTING ROD TO HOLD THE U-SHAPE A SHORT DISTANCE ABOVE AND WITH ITS LEGS PARALLEL TO THE SHOWER CURTAIN ROD ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SHOWER CURTAIN ROD. 